Acting
DeForest Kelley
Jackson DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999) was an American actor, screenwriter, poet and singer known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek. Kelley was delivered by his uncle at his parents' home in Atlanta, the son of Clora (née Casey) and Ernest David Kelley, who was a Baptist minister of Irish and Southern ancestry. DeForest was named after the pioneering electronics engineer Lee De Forest, and later named his Star Trek character's father "David" after his own. Kelley had an older brother, Ernest Casey Kelley. As a child, he often played outside for hours at a time. Kelley was immersed in his father's mission in Conyers and promised his father failure would mean "wreck and ruin". Before the end of his first year at Conyers, Kelley was introduced into the congregation to his musical talents and often sang solo in morning church services. Eventually, this led to an appearance on the radio station WSB AM in Atlanta, Georgia. As a result of his radio work, he won an engagement with Lew Forbes and his orchestra at the Paramount Theater. In 1934, the family left Conyers for the community of Decatur. He attended the Decatur Boys High School where he played on the Decatur Bantams baseball team. Kelley also played football and other sports. Before his graduation, Kelley got a job as a drugstore car hop. He spent his weekends working in the local theatres. Kelley graduated in 1938. During World War II, Kelley served as an enlisted man in the United States Army Air Forces between March 10, 1943, and January 28, 1946, assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit. After an extended stay in Long Beach, California, Kelley decided to pursue an acting career and relocate to southern California permanently, living for a time with his uncle Casey. He worked as an usher in a local theater in order to earn enough money for the move. Kelley's mother encouraged her son in his new career goal, but his father disliked the idea. While in California, Kelley was spotted by a Paramount Pictures scout while doing a United States Navy training film.
Filmography
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
Film · 2022
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
Film · 2016
The Pixar Story
Film · 2007
40 Years of Star Trek
Film · 2006
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Film · 1998
Trekkies
Film · 1997
The Making of Star Trek Deep Space Nine Trials And Tribble-ations
Film · 1996
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
Film · 1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Film · 1996
Virtuosity
Film · 1995
William Shatner: Captain's Log
Film · 1994
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
Film · 1994
A Conversation with DeForest Kelley
Film · 1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Series · 1993
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Film · 1991
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Film · 1991
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Film · 1989
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Series · 1987
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Film · 1986
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Film · 1984
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Film · 1982
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Film · 1979
The Star Trek Dream
Film · 1975
Star Trek
Series · 1973
Night of the Lepus
Film · 1972
The Bull of the West
Film · 1972
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Series · 1971
Room 222
Series · 1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Series · 1969
Space Seed
Film · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Waco
Film · 1966
Bonanza: Ride the Wind
Film · 1966
Star Trek
Series · 1966
Town Tamer
Film · 1965
Black Spurs
Film · 1965
Apache Uprising
Film · 1965
Marriage on the Rocks
Film · 1965
Laredo
Series · 1965
A Man Called Shenandoah
Series · 1965
Where Love Has Gone
Film · 1964
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
Film · 1963
The Fugitive
Series · 1963
The Dakotas
Series · 1963
The Gallant Men
Series · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
Cain's Hundred
Series · 1961
Route 66
Series · 1960
Coronado 9
Series · 1960
Johnny Midnight
Series · 1960
Stagecoach West
Series · 1960
Coronado 9
Series · 1960
Assignment: Underwater
Series · 1960
Route 66
Series · 1960
Warlock
Film · 1959
Black Saddle
Series · 1959
Rawhide
Series · 1959
Riverboat
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Laramie
Series · 1959
Laramie
Series · 1959
The Deputy
Series · 1959
The Man from Blackhawk
Series · 1959
The Law and Jake Wade
Film · 1958
The Donna Reed Show
Series · 1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Series · 1958
Bat Masterson
Series · 1958
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
Series · 1958
Lawman
Series · 1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Series · 1958
77 Sunset Strip
Series · 1958
Lawman
Series · 1958
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Film · 1957
Raintree County
Film · 1957
The Edge of Innocence
Film · 1957
Tales of Wells Fargo
Series · 1957
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Series · 1957
M Squad
Series · 1957
26 Men
Series · 1957
Trackdown
Series · 1957
M Squad
Series · 1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Series · 1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Series · 1957
The Silent Service
Series · 1957
Alcoa Theatre
Series · 1957
Trackdown
Series · 1957
Trackdown
Series · 1957
Trackdown
Series · 1957
Alcoa Theatre
Series · 1957
Tension at Table Rock
Film · 1956
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
Film · 1956
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
Series · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
State Trooper
Series · 1956
House of Bamboo
Film · 1955
Illegal
Film · 1955
The View from Pompey's Head
Film · 1955
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
The Millionaire
Series · 1955
Matinee Theater
Series · 1955
Navy Log
Series · 1955
Navy Log
Series · 1955
Science Fiction Theatre
Series · 1955
Duffy of San Quentin
Film · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
Public Defender
Series · 1954
Studio 57
Series · 1954
The Lone Wolf
Series · 1954
The Lone Wolf
Series · 1954
Waterfront
Series · 1954
Waterfront
Series · 1954
Taxi
Film · 1953
You Are There
Series · 1953
City Detective
Series · 1953
Revlon Mirror Theatre
Series · 1953
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
Series · 1953
You Are There
Series · 1953
City Detective
Series · 1953
Cavalcade of America
Series · 1952
Death Valley Days
Series · 1952
Death Valley Days
Series · 1952
Death Valley Days
Series · 1952
Death Valley Days
Series · 1952
Speak No Evil
Film · 1950
The Men
Film · 1950
Malaya
Film · 1949
Duke of Chicago
Film · 1949
Ambassador for Christ
Film · 1949
The Lone Ranger
Series · 1949
The Lone Ranger
Series · 1949
The Lone Ranger
Series · 1949
Canon City
Film · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Fear in the Night
Film · 1947
Variety Girl
Film · 1947
Beyond Our Own
Film · 1947
Public Prosecutor
Series · 1947
Time to Kill
Film · 1945